Choir Members' Blog
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What a great afternoon, wild and windy, but that was outside. A great turnout of singers old and new as almost 30 people attended our workshop on Saturday 15 February at Palestra, including 14 lovely people who had seen the publicity or been talked into it by friends and colleagues. It was great to see so many people come out on a pretty nasty day!
Some of our guests had been boy sopranos and not sung since their voices had broken, a couple see themselves as dancers rather than singers and others sing in the bath or had sung in Robert’s Christmas group. What was astonishing was how well everyone sung together even after 45 minutes, staying in pitch after singing Abba’s ‘I have a dream’ a capella - not once but twice! Robert, one of the tenors in the choir, started the workshop off with some warm-ups and he got us all to do our best Julie Andrews impressions singing ‘Do re mi’ then got stuck into the Abba. Merel taught us Schulz Dua which is not (as Gabi thought) in Dutch but a great piece to get us finger snapping, knee slapping or clapping whilst we sang. We got it going as a four part round and you could see everyone enjoying singing together in their groups. Merel also got the choir up and walking around, showed us how to breathe properly and sing on the move. We finished off with ‘Doing the Lambeth Walk’ in honour of one of our guests who works in Lambeth Walk and who inspired us to do our own version of the Walk whilst we sang. Some lovely walks and lots of fun and laughter. And good singing. All too soon it was time to say goodbye (apart from those who came to the pub). It was lovely to see our choir friends after almost a two month break and it was great to meet so many new people - we hope they felt welcome and will come again - if not for this term, but maybe when the time is right for them. There is much scientific evidence that ‘Singing is good for you’ but it didn’t need a scientist to see the fun people were having and how much they enjoyed the afternoon! Gabi and Bob
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This note is to confirm our times and venues for February. Weekday rehearsals at Palestra are a little complicated because of a block booking for the ground floor conference rooms every Tuesday. Please enquire at reception to see which room we are in on the day. We are working on the final details of the International Womens' Day event at Stratford on Thursday 7 March, but our rehearsals before then will be focused on music for that evening which will include Fight Song; This is me; I have a dream; Proud Mary; Don't stop believing; and Stand by me.
WORKSHOP Saturday 15 February 14:45 for 15:00-17:00 Palestra, Conference room 2, ground floor REHEARSAL Tuesday 18 February 17:45 for 18:00-20:00 Palestra – ENQUIRE AT RECEPTION REHEARSAL Tuesday 25 February 17:45 for 18:00-20:00 Endeavour Square, Stratford, 10th floor, Small Auditorium 1 5ES REHEARSAL Saturday 29 February 14:45 for 15:00-17:00Palestra, Conference room 1, ground floor We've been asked to sing at the above event and planning is at an advanced stage. Because of the short notice and small number of rehearsals between now and then we're hoping to recycle some old favourites and maybe learn one new item on the theme of 'women supporting women, with songs that encompass this and leaving everyone feeling empowered!' Merel has suggested: Fight Song; This is me; I have a dream; Proud Mary; Don't stop believing; and Stand by me.
Can you put the date in your diary and look at your copies of these songs ready to come to our workshop and rehearsals and the event? There will be a poll on availability shortly. Michael I am hoping you will all have copies of the music Michael has listed as we have sung these recently. As the music cupboard has been recently moved and as yet not sorted out in its new home I can if asked send you electronic copies for you to print out. To save global emails if you need any please email me and I will send them to you Michael has said the rehearsal time is tight as we sing on the Thursday 5 March so please do get your copies out and start learning. I have asked Michael to put the MP3s back on the web page as and when he can. Look forward to singing with you all again. Bob Now have got Brexit and the palindrome day of 20.02.20 out of the way, I have been updating my list of things we have sung as a choir in the three years 2017/18/19. It's certainly a wide variety of different musical genres. from Henry VIII to modern rock music, via all sorts of branch lines. The list used to have its own page on the website but we needed the space, so here it is as an attachment. Let me know if you think I've missed anything important - my records are pretty accurate but not perfect! Michael 
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